Tape dispenser



C. CASTELLI Dec. 2, 1958 TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30.1955 Dec. 2, 1958 c. CASTELLI 6 TAPE DISPENSER Filed March 50. 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR (IV/{455 61: 7544/ ATT United States Patent C)i 2,8 2,676 TAPE DISPENSER 1 Charles Castelli, New Brunswick, 1.,assignor to Johnson'& Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationMarch 30,1955, Serial No; 4 97,945 Claims. c1. z4z 55.s1)

This invention relates to a dispenser for normallytacky,pressure-sensitive "adhesive tape and more particularly to one having aknife moveable to sever a dispensed length oftape. g

A dispenset made according to the invention, maintains the tape, at alltimes, in'a sanitary condition, lengthens its medicine'cabinetshelf'time, andgreatly facilitates its dispensing preparatory to use.

In general, the dispenser is made in two sections fitted togetherfacewise to define a housing in which a roll of tape is contained. Eachsection has a flat portion constituting a sidewall of the container. Ithas a central aperture'and a pair of integral flanges, formed one at theperipheral edge of the aperture and the other at the outer peripheraledge of the side wall. When the'sections are fitted together with theirside walls parallel, the inner flanges form a hollow hub rotatably'toaccommodate the roll of tape to be dispensed, while the outerflangesform the outer peripheral'wall of the dispenser.

There 'is an opening in the peripheral wall of the container givingaccess to its interior and through which the tape may be withdrawnradially in the act of dispensing it.

According to thepresent improvements, there is presented at a'positionradially outwardly from the peripheral wall'of the dispenser, a platformin which there is located a silot extendingin a direction widthwise ofthe tape. When a desired length of tape has been drawn out 2,862,676Patented Dec. 2*, 1

ice

from the 'following description read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front end view of a tape dispenser incorporating the presentimprovements;

through the aperture in the peripheral wall of the container, it-is laidupon the platform with the adhesive side do -V A sliding cover member,capable of easy finger manipulation when the dispenser is held in onehand, is moveable from one position wherein it serves to close theaperture through which the tape is dispensed to another position inwhich the aperture is opened to facilitate the tapedispensing operation.The coverslide has a portionolfset radially outwardly from the center ofthe tape dispenser,

andprovided at its outer end with a knife so arranged that when thecover slide is moved to aperture-closing position, theknife'jmoves witha shearing action through the'tape and into 'the slot. 7

After each tape-severing operation, the new outer end of therollremainsadhered to the platform at the roll side of the knife sl'otx-"Aspace-or depression between this platform and the position wherethe'tapeleaves the 'roll 'perr nits insertion of the finger beneath 'the' tapeto liftit oil the pl'atforrn whenthe sliding cover is moved to itsopenposition to facilitate withdrawal of another lengthof tape from the'roll. When the coveris in its closed position, howevena pairof'sidemembers or ears carried by the cover out near its end where theknife is the dispenser, except whenbeing used, is closed up tightly tomaintain the tape in a 'sanit'arycondition andprolong its life. Alsowhen in closed condition, the knife is protected as by inean's'of as'cabbard.

locatediact to close off thespace beneat hthe tape. "Thus,

- A better'understanding of the-invention may be had severing operation.

Fig. 2 ista side elevation of the dispenser in Fig. 1; the

parts being shown in normal closed position;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig; 2, but with a side wall partly brokenaway and with the slideable cover member in 'open position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the cover member inposition with the knife about to sever the tape and enter the slot;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig; 5 but showing the cover member andknifein position'at the conclusion 'of a tapesevering operation;

Fig. 7-is a front end view of the cover slide and show' ingdetail'ther'eoftogether with devices-of the knife-and side ears;'

Fig. 8 is a sideview of the sliding cover member, partly in'section toshow details of the knife construction;

Fig. 9 is a 'transverse'sectional View on line'-9-9 of Fig; 10 is "aperspective view of the dispenser in Fig. 1,

illustrating the manner in which sliding'cover member is manipulated toopen position to facilitate withdrawal of a length of tape; and

. Fig; '11 is' aperspe-ctive view similar 'to Fig; 10, illustrating themannerin which the-sliding'covermember is manipulated 'to closed:position'to effect the tape- The improved'tapedispenser is adaptedto beheld in one 'hand while with the other hand,"-'the tape may be graspedat the end and the desiredlength of tape pulled'out off the roll (Figs.10, 11). The dispenser comprises a pair'of parallel side wall'members10,?1'1, a central, cylindrical wall'member-lz defining a finger opening13through the dispenser, and an outer, peripheral wall member 14 whichwith the other members define 'a container for a roll of adhesive tape15 (Figs. 1-6).

The inner, cylindrical wall member 12 is formedone half by a flange 16perpendicular to and integral with the side wall'memben'ld at the fingeropening, and the other half by a corresponding flange 17 similarlyassociatedwith the other side wall member '11 (Fig, 9).Whenthe'side'walls 10, 11 are fitted together facewise with the flanges16,17 in axial alignment,'a hub is formed 'on which the roll'of tape '15is rotatably mounted.

To hold the sections'ofthe dispenser together, one or the'inner,cylindricalflangemembers, i. e., the flange16, is formed at its end witha'cylindricalportion "1'8 'displaced radially inwardly and which isdesigned to telescope'within the-cylindrical flange 17 presented bytheother section of the dispenser. The two-"sections of the dispenserare held together by connections comprising in-part a series of smallbosses 19 spaced around the periphery of the'outer flange17 and acorresponding series of apertures 26 formed 'in'the inwardly displacedperipheral wall 14 of the dispenser is continuous and includes a pair offlanges 22, 23 perpendicular to and formed integral, one flange witheach side wall portion of the dispenser. These flanges abut togetherclosely at their inner edges so that when the sections of the dispenserare locked together. in the manner previously described,

-a substantially dust-tight closure is efiected around the periphery sothat tape contained within the dispenser is has been made, is in thesemi-circular section 25 of the dispenser and extends from the frontwhere the semi circular section begins to a position midway of the top.

From the latter position around to a positionapproximately'diametrically opposite the front end of the accessopening, the outer peripheral wall has a portion 26 recessed a shortdistance inwardly from the outer edge of the side walls of the container(Figs. 5, 6).

The outer peripheral wall is recessed in the manner described toaccommodate a sliding cover plate 27 for the access opening. The coverplate has a body portion concentric with the curved peripheral wall ofthe container, and is formed with tongues 28 in its opposite paralleledges adapted to slide in opposed grooves 29 formed in the inner facesof the side wall members adjacent the peripheries thereof. The grooves29 extend from the front end of the access opening and around the top ofthe dispenser throughout the extent of the recessed wall portion 26, itbeing understood that the outer surface i is fitted into place with itslateral tongues 28 in engagement with the grooves 29 in the side walls.The tongue and groove connections are such as to permit the cover memberto slide freely from one position where its body portion abuts at itsfront end, against a platform 30 defining the front end of the accessopening 21 to another position where such body portion abuts at its rearend, against a platform 31 at the terminal of the recessed portion 26 ofthe peripheral wall. The length of the body portion 27 of the slidingcover member is such that when the member is in the first-mentionedposition, the access opening in the dispenser is fully closed, whereaswhen the cover member is in the second-mentioned position, the accessopening is fully exposed.

Movement of the cover member 27 to open position permits the desiredlength of tape to be Withdrawn from the dispenser (Fig. Movement of thecover member to closed position effects severance of the length that hasbeen withdrawn (Fig. 11). The mechanism for severing the tape will nowbe described.

Spaced a short distance in advance of the platform 30 which is engagedby the cover member 27 in its closed position, there is located aplatform 32 consisting of two parts 33 and 33a, spaced in a fore and aftdirection to define between them a slot 34 whose length in a directionwidthwise of the tape is greater than the width of the tape per se(Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11).

The slot 34 and the spaced platform parts 33, 33a which define it arepresented at the top of a portion 35 that extends forwardly from themain portion of the dispenser which for all practical purposes may beconsidered as being defined by the straight extension 25a of theperipheral curved portion 25 at the rear of'the extension 35. The frontextension 35 has sides 36 extending forwardly from the periphery andwhichmay be continuations of the sides of the container per se, a frontwall 37 which may be continuations of the flanges constituting the outerperipheral wall of the dispenser, and a top portion or recess 38 which,likewise, may be continuations of the flanges constituting the outerperipheral wall of the dispenser. The top wall 38 of the front extensionis in the form of a U or semi-circle for a reason which will shortlyappear.

As part of the dispensing operation, the tape is grasped at its outerend, pulled the desired length off the roll outwardly through the accessopening 21, and moved downwardly until the underside thereof, i. e. theadhesive side, comes in contact with the platform 32 defining thetransverse slot 34. In the act of laying down the tape, the undersidethereof automatically engages the platform 30 at the front end of theaccess opening. This automatic engagement results from the fact that theplatform is located somewhat above a plane defined by the axis of thetape roll and the platforms at the front of the container. Since apressure-sensitive adhesive tape, when pulled from a roll thereof, willalmost invariably leave the roll in a radial direction, it follows thatthe tape always will engage the platform 30 when it is laid down on theplatform 32, spaced forwardly thereof, preparatory to the tape-severingoperation.

The tape is severed by a transverse knife 39 carried by the slideablecover member 27. To this end, the cover member is formed with anextension at the front comprising a flat top portion 40 from which theknife depends, and a pair of parallel side ears 41 formed integrallywith and which likewise depends from the top portion. The transverseknife, for certain types of tape, may be formed integrally with the topmember and extend downwardly from the underside thereof at a positionbetween the lateral ears 41 to which reference has been made. Forplastic tape, it is preferred that the knife have a piercing point 42defined by two edges angled to meet each other in a fore and aftvertical plane located at about the longitudinal center line of thetape. Between the body portion 27 of the cover, which serves to closethe access opening 21 and the top 40 of its forward extension, there isprovided a raised portion 43 serving as a fingerpiece by which the covermay be manipulated between open and closed position, most readily 'bythe thumb of the hand in which the dispenser is held.

Manipulation of the slide cover is facilitated by transversely serratingthe outer top surface of the fingerpiece. When the cover is in closedposition, the knife 39 extends into the transverse slot 34, where it isin a safe position out of the way.

To cut off a piece of tape, the dispenser preferably is held in one handin a position permitting the fingerpiece on the cover member to beengaged by the thumb and slid to open position (Fig. 10). Assuming therehas been a previous tape-cutting operation, the extreme front end of thetape by virtue of its adhesiveness will be anchored to the platform 32at the rear of the knife slot 34 and from that platform the tape willstretch across the U-shaped recess 38 to the platform 30 defining thefront end of the access opening. The U-shaped recess 38 permits a fingerof the other hand to be inserted beneath the tape a distance sufficientto enable the tape to be grasped between such finger and the thumb. Thetape is lifted off both the platform 32 in advance of the U-shapedrecess and the platform 30 at the rear thereof and when free of bothplatforms, is pulled out a distance determined by the length of tape tobe dispensed. Then, as previously stated, the tape is moved downwardlyuntil the underside thereof engages the platform 32 containing the knifeslot and the platform 30 at the rear of the U- shaped recess. The thumbof the hand in which the dispenser is held then is operated to push thecover member 27 to closing position. In the act of doing this, the

knife 39 at its point 42 first engages the tape at its center and thencuts down through the tape with great facility as the cover-closingoperation is completed (Figs. 6 and 11). The arrangement and thedimensions of the parts are such that when the cover member is in closedposition, it is still possible without difliculty to remove the severedlength of tape from the platform at the front of the knife slot to whichit continues to adhere after the tape-severing operation has beencompleted.

After completion of the tape-severing operation and assuming that nofurther length of tape at that time is desired, the dispenser is left inclosed position. When closed, the lateral ears 41 on the cover memberextend downwardly to close off from the atmosphere the U- shaped recess38 beneath the tape and since otherwise the dispenser is closedthroughout, the tape therein as well as the portion thereof extendingforwardly across the U-shaped recess will be maintained in a sanitarycondition and with less opportunity for oxidation than if the tape wereexposed to the air.

Provision is also made for retaining the cover member againstinadvertent opening. To this end, the inner opposed surfaces of thelateral ears 41 are formed each with a slightly-raised surface or boss48. The widthwise dimension between the opposed faces of these bosses issomewhat less than the normal widthwise dimension between the outerlateral faces of the front extension of the dispenser. Consequently,during the cover-opening and the cover-closing operations the ears aresprung slightly outwardly by the engagement of the bosses with suchlateral faces, but when the cover member is in its fullyclosed position,the bosses register with slight depressions 44 formed in the outer facesof the side wall extensions permitting the ears again to springinwardly. With the bosses 48 thus engaged in the corresponding recesses,44 the cover member is effectively held against inadvertent opening.

While any suitable material may be used in the construction of thedispenser, the parts all are relatively simple and have been designedprimarily for plastic molding,

which will give a dispenser both economical to manufacture and pleasingin appearance.

A cover member molded of a plastic material with integral knife of thetype described is eminently adapted for use with plastic tape. If,however, such a knife is not suitable for the tape desired to be usedwith the dispenser, one like that disclosed in my co-pendingapplication, Ser. No. 391,317, which since has issued as Patent No.2,802,527, may be used in its stead.

Ordinarily, the connections between the two lateral sections of thedispenser will prevent relative -rotation therebetween, but as aprecautionary measure, there may be provided also for this purpose, upnear the front end of the forward extension of the dispenser, transversecylindrical bosses molded integral with the inner surface of the frontWall extension (Figs. 1 and 4). Such bosses are formed at their opposedinner adjacent ends one with a recess and the other with a complementaryprotrusion adapted to fit in the recess. These complementary andcooperating parts, in addition to preventing relative rotation betweenthe sections, act during assembly to indicate the proper relativepositions of the parts.

The invention has been described in connection with one embodimentthereof, but many modifications are included within its spirit. Theinvention, therefore is to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

The claims are:

1. A dispenser for a roll of normally-tacky and pressure sensitiveadhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced toaccommodate a roll of such tape and having dimensions such as toencompass the -IOll entirely within the periphery thereof, a hub forrotatably supporting the roll between the side walls and within theconfines of said peripheries, a platform located more .radially remotefrom said hub than is the periphery and to which a dispensed length oftape pulled from the roll will adhere when the adhesive side thereof andthe platform are brought into engagement, means associated with theplatform to cooperate in severing a length of tape adhered thereto, anda'knife moveable along the dispenser in a path substantially concentricwith the roll from one position permitting withdrawal of a length fromthe roll and its engagement with the platform to a second position, saidknife, in its movement to said second position, acting in cooperationwith said means on the platform to sever the tape adhered thereto.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the means associated withthe platform that cooperates in the severing ofa length of tapecomprises a slot adapted to admit the knife as it passes through thetape in its movement to said second position.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the slot in the platform ispresented at the top of a housing which serves as a scabbardto guard theknife when the latter has passed through the slot into said secondposition.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein space is provided beneaththe tape in the region between the platform and the periphery of thewalls to accommodate the finger beneath the tape and facilitate itsremoval from the platform.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the knife in its movement issupported by means having in association with itself devices for closingoff said space beneath the tape when the knife is in said secondposition.

6. A dispenser for a roll of normally tacky and pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced toaccommodate a roll of such tape, a hub for rotatably supporting the rollbetween the side Walls, a platform located more radially remote fromsaid hub than are the peripheries of said walls and said roll and towhich a dispensed length of tape pulled from the roll will adhere whenthe adhesive side thereof and the platform are brought into engagement,means associated with the platform to cooperate in severing a length oftape adhered thereto, and a knife moveable along the dispenser in a pathsubstantially concentric with the roll from one position permittingwithdrawal of a length from the roll and its engagement with theplatform to a second position, said knife, in its movement to saidsecond posi tion, acting in cooperation with said means on the platformto sever the tape adhered thereto. I

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the means associated withthe platform that cooperates in the severing of a length of tapecomprises a slot adapted to admit the knife as it passes through thetape in its movement to said second position.

8. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein there are provided meanswhich support the platform and means which carry the knife, and deviceslocated on each of said means respectively adapted to interlock and holdthe knife against inadvertent movement when said knife is in its secondposition.

9. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the side walls are closedall around their periphery to encase the roll except for an aperturethrough which tape is withdrawn during a dispensing operation, and aslidable cover for opening and closing said aperture.

10. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the side walls are closedall around their periphery to encase the roll except for an aperturethrough'which tape is Withdrawn during a dispensing operation, and theknife is carried by a slide adapted in the first position of the knifeto expose the aperture and in the second position of the knife to closethe aperture.

11. A dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the slideable cover isequipped with a finger piece to facilitate onehand manipulation of thecover between aperture opening and closing plositions.

12. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the moveable knife issupported by means equipped With a finger piece to facilitate one-handmanipulation of the knife between its first and second positions.

13. A dispenser according to'claim 6 wherein the hub is hollow and openat both ends to facilitate one-hand grasping of the dispenser andwherein the moveable knife is supported by means equipped with a fingerpiece within ready reach of a finger on the hand grasping the dispenserto facilitate one-hand manipulation of the knife between its first andsecond positions.

14. A dispenser for a roll of normally-tacky and pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced toaccommodate a roll of such tape, a hollow hub member for rotatablysupporting the roll between the sidewalls and an outer peripheral wallmember provided with an access aperture, said peripheral wall member,when the access aperture is closed, together with the hub and the sidewall members forming a housing in which the roll of tape is entirelyenclosed in a sanitary condition, said housing being formed withan-extension adjacent said access aperture presenting exteriorly of'andin spaced relation with said aperture, a platform to which a dispensedlength of'tapepulled from the roll through the aperture will adhere whenthe adhesive side thereof and the platform are brought into engagement,a slot in said platform, a cover member for the-access apertureslideable along the dispenser adjacent the peripheral wall thereofbetween one position whereinthe access aperture is open permittingwithdrawal of a length of tape from the dispenser and a second positionwherein said access aperture is closed, a knife carried by the slideablecover member acting, as the cover member is moved to closed position, tocut through that portion of the tape adhered to the platform and enterthe slot therein, means in the extension below the platform to guard theknife when it has entered the slot, a recess adjacent the platform andbeneath the tape when adhered thereto to facilitate removal of the tapefrom the platform when the cover member is in opened position, and meanson the cover member for closing off the recess beneath the tape when thecover member is in closed position. i

15. A dispenser for a roll of normally tacky and pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape comprisi'nga pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced toaccommodate a roll of such tape, a hollow hub member for ro-tatablysupporting the roll between the side walls, an outer peripheral wallmember provided with an access aperture, said peripheral wall member,when the access" aperture is closed, together with the hub and the sidewall members forming a housing in which the roll of tape is entirelyenclosed in a sanitary condition, a platform to which a dispensed lengthoftape pulled from the roll through the aperture will adhere when theadhesive side thereof and the platformare brought into engagement, saidplatformbeing spaced radially remote from said roll, a slot in saidplatform, a cover member for the access aperture slideable along thedispenser adjacent the peripheral wall thereof is adhered thereto and ina location betweenthe slot and cover member for closing off the recessbetween the tape the roll and below the access aperture, said recessserving to facilitate removal of tape from the platform when the covermember is in open position by providing room for insertion of the fingerbeneath the tape, and means on the when the cover member is in closedposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,484,673 Becker Oct. 11, 1949 2,600,904 Morgan June 17, 1952 2,704,640Metzler Mar. 22, 1955 2,710,152 Jones June 7,

